26 Best Waterfalls In Washington State

Washington has some of the best waterfalls I have ever seen in my life! I have been obsessed with exploring them in the Springtime when the waterfalls are gushing. I also like to explore them in the Winter because most are great options to avoid avalanche danger. Below I list the best waterfalls in Washington State. Some of these are located on the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier National Park, North Bend area, and more. I know Washington is known to be rainy, so this list will prove to be uber useful on those days.

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Waterfalls In Washington State Map

Best Waterfalls In Washington State

Sol Duc Falls

• Distance: 1.6 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 200 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Olympic Peninsula
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: Spring, Summer, and Fall

Sol Duc Falls is located in Olympic National Park, and it is one of the best easy waterfall trails on this list! I have hiked to Sol Duc Falls twice. Once during sunrise and once during sunset. I enjoyed sunrise a lot more as the sun peering through the trees felt more majestic (as shown in the picture above).

This is a great family hike, and it is the start of one of the most popular backpacking trails in the Olympic National Park: The High Divide.

Narada Falls

• Distance: 0.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 100 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long

Narada Falls is a quick pitstop when you are headed to the popular Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. Just head down the trail until you reach the viewpoint. It is a pretty short walk to witness this stunning area. You can view this waterfall all year long as long as the Longmire to Paradise Road is open (it usually is). If you go in the winter, there might be a ton of snow so bring some microspikes or snowshoes.

Falls Creek Falls

• Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 695 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Columbia River Gorge/ Gifford Pinchot National Forest
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Best Season: Spring, Summer, and Fall

Falls Creek Falls is my favorite waterfall in Washington! If someone told me I could only visit one waterfall for the rest of my life, I would probably pick this one. I love how it has two different layers, and I like that I can take my dog.

I also love that this is a moderate hike. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain when we hiked this trail, but luckily it wasn’t too hard or long for us to get annoyed with the rain.

Overall this is an outstanding trail that I always recommend to people. However, it is such a shame that it is farther away from Seattle when compared to the other waterfalls. I suggest combining Panther Creek Falls which I talk about below.

Myrtle Falls

• Distance: 0.8 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 150 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Parks Pass
• Best Season: Summer, and Fall

Myrtle Falls is probably the most photographed waterfall on this list. However, if you capture it right on a beautiful clear day, you can frame Mount Rainier to be in the picture with the waterfall. It is a wonderful view and can easily be accessed by most people.

Myrtle Falls is a part of the famous Skyline trail, but if you don’t want to hike the whole 5.5 miles, you can definitely hike straight to the waterfall.

Snoqualmie Falls

• Distance: 1.4 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 250 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: North Bend Area
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: There is a fee but park across the street to avoid it
• Best Season: All Year Long

Snoqualmie Waterfall is probably the most visited waterfall on this list. You don’t need to do the Snoqualmie Falls hike to see this majestic place. Walk on over to the viewpoint, and voila! Waterfall galore. If you want to make your trip a little more worthwhile, do the easy 1.5-mile hike.

If you want to see some beautiful fall colors visit around October, as shown in the picture above! But please note that it might be rainy.

I also love eating at the Salish Lodge & Spa restaurant after experiencing the waterfall. They have a fantastic brunch, and it is a great place to take people from out of town. Just make reservations on their website.

Little Mashel Falls

• Distance: 4.6 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 561 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: March until October

Little Mashel Falls is a fantastic spot to visit during the Fall. The stunning fall colors surrounding these waterfalls are majestic. It is also great to see it in the Spring when the waterfall is gushing.

There are three waterfalls total that you can explore in this area, and they are called Little Mashel Lower Falls, Little Mashel Middle Falls, and Little Mashel Upper Falls. The Lower Falls and Middle Falls were my favorites, and I was not too impressed with the Upper Falls.

The Middle Falls, you can go behind the waterfall, but we opted not to because it would have soaked us and we were freezing already.

The trailhead can be a bit confusing. There are many of them. We decided to park at the Bud Blancher (as shown in the AllTrails Map above), and there might be a trailhead that is closer to the waterfalls, but it was a bit confusing to find, so we decided to walk a bit longer to see the waterfalls. It was good exercise, and not the end of the world to add a few more miles.

This waterfall hike was on my bucket list for years, and I am glad I finally saw it. It really blew my expectations out of the water. The waterfall was a lot bigger and more impressive than I thought it would be.

Twin Falls

• Distance: 2.5 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 636 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: North Bend Area / Olallie State Park
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Discover Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long

When it comes to family hikes near Seattle, Twin Falls wins almost every time. It is a great trail that I suggest to my readers who are beginner hikers or have kids.

Twin Falls is one of those hikes that is the best bang for your buck. The trail features the greenest, mossiest trees and a stunning flowing river. When I took my mom when she was visiting me, she could not stop taking pictures every 5 minutes.

Boulder River Falls

• Distance: 8.8 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,646 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mountain Loop Highway
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: March until October

Boulder River Falls is one of my new favorite hikes! This trail is on another level! It is mossy with some elevation gain, and the waterfall is ginormous! It was difficult to capture just how big and beautiful this waterfall is. It is also one of those waterfalls not many people have heard of.

Do not the mileage scare you. It only took around 1.5 miles to get to the waterfall. You can make the hike longer and do the 8.8 miles, but the highlight is this outstanding waterfall.

We saw many families on this trail. In fact, we were one of the few people without kids. This hike is very family-friendly.

Panther Creek Falls

• Distance: 0.3 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 121 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Columbia River Gorge
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: All Year Long

I wouldn’t consider Panther Creek Falls a hike as it is more of a viewpoint. The lush moss and trees really make the long drive so worth it! There is a higher viewpoint and a lower viewpoint. The lower viewpoint has better visibility of the waterfall. But you do have to walk down a semi-steep pathway.

Cherry Creek Falls

• Distance: 5.1 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 636 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Stevens Pass
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: All Year Long, Good For Winter

This is a fantastic place to go in the winter months when there is nothing but rain. The waterfall has two cascading falls, and the height isn’t as tall as some of the other falls on this list, but it is pretty close to Seattle, and the hike is pretty easy.

The waterfall on the left does tend to dry out in the fall, so I would avoid it during this time. The Springtime can bring a ton of mud so bring good waterproof hiking shoes and extra socks. Also make sure you have a map, as there are a ton of junctions with no signs.

Otter Falls

• Distance: 9.1 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 793 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: North Bend Area
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Best Season: Spring Through Fall

If you are looking for a relaxing but long trail into the woods, Otter Falls is a great trail. The waterfall is somewhat similar to Bridal Veil Falls, with a large slanted rock face. The waterfall is best in the Spring as that is when the waterfall looks more wonderful.

Make sure you take a map with you or that you know where to turn in the junctions because my husband did get lost on this trail.

Palouse Falls State Park

• Distance: 0.7 mile, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 65 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy/Hard, depending where you go
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Palouse and Blue Mountains
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Discover Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long

Palouse Falls is one of the best eastern Washington waterfalls. The surrounding dry dessert views look glorious with the waterfall. This is why I think this is the most unique-looking waterfall of the bunch. When you arrive at the parking lot, you feel like you are in another country. This area gives off some Iceland vibes, that is for sure.

You don’t need to hike to enjoy this waterfall, though. The picture above is pretty close to the parking lot. You can hike down to the waterfall, but I will warn you that it is hazardous and steep. There have been numerous fatalities in this area, so always watch your step.

Ladder Creek Falls

• Distance: 0.5 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 72 ft.
• Route Type: Out And Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: Summer Through Fall

Ladder Creek is located near North Cascades National Park behind a powerhouse and is the only waterfall you should see at night. Why is that? Because there is a light show! Yes, the waterfall is lit up from dusk until dawn with colors of the rainbow, coupled with music. You don’t have to come here during the night, though. This place is accessible all day long.

Silver Falls

• Distance: 2.9 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 518 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: Summer Through Fall

Silver Falls is a very underrated hike in Mount Rainier National Park. It is probably because the trailhead is right next to the very popular Grove of the Patriarchs Trail. So most families attempt that hike instead.

When we did the Grove of the Patriarchs, it was extremely crowded, so we walked over to Comet Falls, and there was no one there. It was a nice relaxing trail right next to the river. It was simply stunning, and I enjoyed my time at this stunning waterfall.

Lewis River Falls

• Distance: 8.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 974 ft.
• Route Type: Out And Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Lewis River Region
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass And Parking Permit needs to reserved on Recreation.gov
• Best Season: Spring Through Fall

Lewis River Falls is actually an accumulation of three waterfalls on a 9-mile trail. You do not need to hike the whole trail to see each waterfall as there is a parking lot at each waterfall, and you can see what I mean by checking out this map.

You do have to reserve a parking permit before you make your way to the trail, and you can reserve it right here. You will need to print out the ticket and place it on your dashboard while you are on the trail. This is only needed in the busy season, which is June 15 through September 15.

Comet Falls

• Distance: 3.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1279 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area 
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: Summer Through Fall

Comet Falls is probably my second favorite waterfall in Washington. There is something epic about walking up to this one-of-a-kind waterfall. The pictures do not do this waterfall any justice. When you see it in person, it looks immense. It stands at about 380 feet high!

What I also like about this trail is that it features other waterfalls and a stunning flowing river. We had so much fun experiencing this trail, especially with our friends that were out of town.

Spray Waterfall

• Distance: 6.9 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,198 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Mount Rainier Area 
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: Summer Through Fall

Spray Waterfall is a fantastic trail if you want some mountain views thrown into the mix. But, trust me, most waterfall trails in Washington have no mountain views, just trees! So Spray Falls is a gem. This waterfall is ginormous and is around 354 feet tall. You do have to cross a river to get a good view of the waterfall so bring trekking poles and waterproof hiking shoes. After seeing the waterfall make sure you keep on hiking because the views of Mount Rainier at the end of this trail are breathtaking.

Getting to the trailhead can be a pain for people with low clearance cars, so be prepared for a bumpy drive!

Franklin Falls

• Distance(Summer, Winter): 2 miles, 6.9 miles roundtrip,
• Elevation Gain (Summer, Winter): 364 ft, 816 ft,
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty (Summer, Winter): Easy, Moderate
• Trail Guide (Summer, Winter): Link, Link
• Location: Snoqualmie Pass 
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long, Hike is popular in the winter

This waterfall is a PNW classic. Especially in the Winter. You will witness a frozen waterfall if you go at the right time. If you go in the winter, the trail will be a lot longer compared to the summer. If you hike during the summer, the mileage is only around 2 miles, which is great to do with the kids.

The winter hike can be long and grueling, so pack warm clothes. It is also not a guarantee you will see the area blanketed by snow, as shown in my pictures below. You have to time it right! Trust me, there was one year that I did not time it correctly, and it is now one of the worst hiking experiences in my life.

So the trick is to wait until there is a snowstorm, where even the town of North Bend is covered in snow (this town is covered in snow only a few times a year). This is probably the easiest way to guarantee a frozen waterfall.

Rocky Brook Falls

• Distance: 0.3 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 32 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Olympic Peninsula
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: All Year Long

If you are heading out to the Olympic Peninsula’s east side, you need to stop at Rocky Brook Falls. It is another easy lookout of a fantastic tall standing waterfall! You can even stand right next to the waterfall! It is so worth the pit stop!

There are many rocks and they are all so slippery so be careful. Also, make sure you take a good look at the river because you might spot salmon swimming up! This waterfall is one of the best-kept secrets of Washington.

Bridal Veil Falls

• Distance: 4.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,043 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Stevens Pass
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Best Season: Spring Through Fall

Bridal Veil Falls is another family-friendly hike. I love that it can be combined with Serene Lake, which is one of the most stunning lakes in Washington. But combining the lake and waterfall will make the trail a difficult hike.

Marymere Falls

• Distance: 1.7 mile roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 298 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Olympic National Park
• Dogs Allowed: No
• Parking Pass: National Park Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long

Marymere Falls is an easy trail to do for the whole family. It is good to combine this trail with Mount Storm King since the trailheads are the same. However, Mount Storm King is rated as difficult due to its steepness. I would also stop at Lake Crescent, that is located at the trailhead. The water is a stunning green/blue color.

Wallace Falls

• Distance: 4.9 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,489 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Stevens Pass
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Discover Pass
• Best Season: All Year Long

Wallace Falls is one of those trails that are perfect on a cloudy day in Washington. It is located inside Wallace Falls State Park. The trail is in excellent condition, and I love walking around here with my dog. You can make the trail as long or as short as you need to, as there are many viewpoints throughout the hike. The best viewpoint, in my opinion, is the Middle Falls Wallace Falls Viewpoint. The upper Wallace Falls viewpoint is ok, so if you don’t want to hike all the way up to the upper viewpoint, you don’t have to for a great view.

Read More: Wallace Falls Trail | Tips for Hiking Washington’s Wonder Route 

Madison Falls

• Distance: 0.2 mile round trip
• Elevation Gain: 26 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Olympic Peninsula
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: All Year Long

If you are headed to Olympic National Park for a day, you need to stop at Madison Falls. It is an easy stop located near Port Angeles, and the trail is technically just a viewpoint of the waterfall. However, this waterfall is very underrated and one of the best Olympic Peninsula’s best-kept secrets.

Teneriffe Falls

• Distance: 5.4 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,610 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: North Bend Area
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: Discover Pass
• Best Season: Spring Through Fall

Teneriffe Falls, I feel like it is a hidden gem of Washington. I lived in Washington for 2 years before I ever heard of this waterfall. It is gorgeous and a bit of a tough trek towards the end. Make sure to hike in the Spring, though, as the people we were with mentioned how it barely has water other times of the year.

Whatcom Falls

• Distance: 4.0 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 305 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Puget Sound and Islands
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: All Year

Whatcom Falls is a great waterfall to visit all year long. The park is located right in the middle of Bellingham. In fact, we ended up grabbing a few beers situated a few minutes away after exploring this park.

The waterfall is located right next to the parking lot, so you don’t need to hike too far to see it. We saw many families enjoying this park on a beautiful morning. We went past the waterfall, and there wasn’t much else to see, but it was nice to stretch our legs.

Walupt Creek Falls

• Distance: 1.9 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 413 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Location: Puget Sound and Islands
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Parking Pass: None
• Best Season: Spring through Fall

Walupt Falls is, without a doubt, the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. Its stunning beauty makes the challenging journey to get there absolutely worth it. However, be prepared: this hike is quite far from Seattle, so plan for a long drive.

One essential tip is to download the AllTrails map before you go. We got lost on the way, even though we had the downloaded map. The trail is not well maintained, so having a reliable map is crucial. As you approach the end of the trail, it becomes extremely steep. There is a rope to help you navigate this section, which is quite handy.

What I loved most about this hike is the ability to walk on the waterfall. It’s not as slippery as it looks, and it’s an incredible experience. We wore Teva Sandals for the hike and the waterfall, and they were super comfortable and perfect for the terrain. There’s also an area where you can swim and little rapids where kids can play.

Despite the trail’s difficulty, I would definitely bring children along so they can swim and enjoy the area. I can’t wait until my baby, Xavier, is older so I can bring him here. I’m sure we’ll have an amazing time exploring and enjoying the beauty of Walupt Falls together.

Final Thoughts On Hidden Waterfalls In Washington State

Thanks for reading all about the Washington state waterfalls! Make sure to check out some of my other Pacific Northwest Posts:

• The Ultimate Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Road Trip
• The Best Things To Do On The Oregon Coast
• Best Hikes In Washington State
• 17 Breathtaking Easy Hikes In Washington State
• The 12 Best Washington Fire Lookouts
• The 16 Best Spring Hikes In Washington State

Pin For Later: Waterfall Hikes Washington